Moisture condenser



1962 E. H. ROYSE 3,050,954

MOISTURE CONDENSER Filed May a, 1960 s Sheets-Sheet 1 lNmvToR. Edwin H. Rayse BY W A TTORNEYS 1962 E. H. ROYSE 3,050,954

MOISTURE CONDENSER Filed May 6, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Edwin H. ROyS6 Fig.6 BY QZM A TTORNEYS E. H. ROYSE MOISTURE CONDENSER Aug. 28, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 6. 1960 m m m Edwin H. Royse ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 28, 1962 3,050,954 MOISTURE CONDENSER Edwin H. Royse, 4740 Vicksburg, Dallas, Tex. Filed May 6, 1961 Ser. No. 27,448 9 Claims. (Ql. 62139) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in moisture condensers.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved moisture condenser for dehumidifying air or other fluid under pressure by refrigerating the fluid to condense the moisture therein and separating the condensed moisture from said fluid.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved moisture condenser having refrigerating means for dehumidifying compressed air or other fluid to condense the moisture therein for separation therefrom, the refrigerating means being of the latent ice type so as to eliminate the necessity of constantly supplying a refrigerant thereto.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved moisture condenser for dehumidifying compressed air or other fluid having a sealed chamber containing a liquid and means immersed in the liquid for conducting the air or fluid in heat exchange relation to a refrigerant, the chamber communicating with a pressureresponsive switch which controls the supply of refrigerant whereby the switch is actuated by the variations in pressure of said liquid created by the formation and melting of ice on the heat exchange means.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved moisture condenser, of the character described, wherein the heat exchange means includes nested coils for conducting the fluid and refrigerant in contiguous relationship and surrounding an inner chamber into which the condensed fluid is discharged and in which said fluid is whirled to separate the condensed moisture therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved moisture condenser, of the character described, wherein the fluid conducting coil has its upstream end portion spaced from the refrigerant coil whereby the fluid is pre-cooled by the liquid.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved moisture condenser, of the character described, which is cap-able of being utilized to cool water and other liquids as well as fluids.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein examples of the invention are shown, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a moisture condenser constructed in accordance with the invention and connected to a refrigerant compressor,

FIG. 2 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view of the moisture condenser,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view, showing the formation of ice on the refrigerant coils of the heat exchanger,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, plan view, partly in section, of the condenser,

FIG. 5 is a horizontal, cross-sectional View, taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, detailed view of the pressureresponsive switch,

FIG. 7 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view, taken on the line 77 of FIG. 5,

FIG. 8 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view of a modified moisture condenser,

FIG. 9 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view of the separator with a portion of the fluid coil connected thereto, and

FIG. 10 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a moisture condenser having refrigerant inlet and outlet conductors 11 and 12 connected to a compressor 13 which is driven by a motor 14 in the usual manner. A conventional expansion valve 15 and condenser 15 are mounted in the inlet conductor .11, and electrical lead Wires 16 connect the motor 14 to a source of electrical energy (not shown). For controlling operation of the motor, a pressure-responsive switch 17 is connected in one of the lead wires 16 and communicates with the condenser 10 through a conductor 18. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the condenser includes an upright cylindrical casing or housing '19 having continuous side, top and bottom walls 20, 21 and 22 which are joined to each other to provide a hermetically sealed chamber 23. A complementary casing or housing 24, of greater diameter and length, concentrically surrounds the housing 19 and is hermetically sealed by having continuous side, top and bottom walls 25, 26 and 27 of a fiber reinforced plastic material bonded together. Insulation material 28, such as glass fibers, fills the space between the Walls of the housing 19 and casing 24 whereby the chamber 23 is isolated from external temperatures as well as moistures.

The conductors 11, 12 and 18 as well as a fluid outlet conductor 29 extend through the side wall 25 of the casing and the top wall 21 of the housing, while a fluid inlet conductor 30 from a compressor or other pressure source (not shown) and a liquid drain conductor 31 extend through said side wall and the bottom wall 22 of said housing. A suitable valve 32, which may be of the float type, is mounted in the drain conductor 31 and is adapted to be opened periodically. The chamber 23 is filled with a suitable liquid, such as distilled water or an eutectic solution, after substantially all air has been evacuated therefrom. A small quantity or bubble of air is retained in the chamber, as shown by the numeral 33 in FIG. 2, so as to provide a greater pressure differential for actuating the switch 17.

A heat exchanger 34 is disposed within the chamber 23 and includes an outer helical coil 35 communicating and extending upwardly from the fluid inlet conductor 30 to the upper end of said chamber. The upper end of the coil 35 communicates with an inner helical coil 36 which extends downwardly in the chamber and terminates above its lower end. Between and contiguous the convolutions of the inner fluid coil 36, an outer refrigerant coil 37 extends helically downward from the refrigerant inlet conductor 11 and has its lower end communicating with an inner helical coil 38 which extends upwardly within said inner fluid coil and which may be of reduced diameter as shown. The upper end of the inner refrigerant coil 38 communicates with the refrigerant outlet conductor 12, and all of the coils are concentric relative to the chamber and one another. A plurality of upright tubular rods or tubes 39 extend longitudinally of the chamber 23 and are secured to the top and bottom walls 21 and 22 of the housing 19 as well as to the inner fluid coil 36 and outer refrigerant coil 37 to support the heat exchanger 34 and maintain its coils in spaced relationship. It is noted that the outer fluid coil 35 is disposed externally of the tubes 39 adjacent the housing side wall 20.

A separator 40 is disposed concentrically within the inner refrigerant coil 38 and includes an upright tubular body 41 having reduced or domed ends 42 which terminate in axial nipples 43 for receiving the inner ends of the conductors 29 and '30. Preferably, the coil 38 is wound around and in close proximity to the separator. As shown by the numeral 44 in FIG. 7, the inner end of the fluid outlet conductor depends through the upper nipple 43 so as to project an appreciable distance into the interior 45 of the separator 40 which functions as a cylindrical separating chamber. The lower end of the inner fluid coil 36 communicates with the lower portion of the separating chamber 45, preferably, having its inlet 46 at a tangent to said chamber (FIGS. 5 and 7) to impart a whirling movement to the fluid. It is noted that the separating chamber is of much larger area than the crosssectional area of the fluid coil.

Primarily, the condenser '10 is adapted to dehumify compressed air, gasses or other fluids under pressure by refrigerating the fluid so as to condense the moisture therein. Due to the refrigerant coils 37 and 38, the liquid in the chamber 23 of the housing 19 is chilled and serves as a heat exchange medium for pre-cooling the fluid as it flows through the outer coil 35. The principal cooling of the air occurs in the inner coil 36 which is in close proximity 'to the outer coil 37 and adjacent the inner coil 38. Upon reaching the separator 40, the velocity of the cooled fluid is reduced and said fluid whirls around the chamber 45 in an upward spiral movement until it enters the lower end 44 of the outlet conductor 29. As the fluid travels upwardly, the moisture accumulates in droplets which cling to the wall of the chamber and gravitate toward the bottom thereof. Entrainment of moisture in the escaping fluid is reduced to a minimum due to said fluid being forced to leave the wall of the chamber in order to enter the depending end 44 of the conductor 29. Periodically, the valve 32 is opened to drain the accumulated moisture from the chamber, it being noted that said valve is normally closed to prevent escape of fluid through the drain conductor 31. Since the inner refrigerant coil 38 closely surrounds the separator, its chamber is cooled so as to further cool the fluid and condense additional moisture. By eliminating one of the conductors 29 and 31, the condenser could be employed to cool water or other liquids.

As shown by the letter I in FIG. 3, ice is adapted to accumulate around the refrigerant coils and the ice around the outer coil 37 contacts and partially encases the inner fluid coil 36. Although not shown, the ice around the inner coil 38 contacts and partially encases the separator 40 due to its close proximity. In addition to chilling the fluid, the ice refrigerates the liquid in the chamber 23 and maintains it at a low temperature for pre-cooling said fluid. Due to this accumulation of ice, the refrigerating capacity of the condenser is increased without requiring frequent operation of the compressor 13. The amount of ice allowed to accumulate is controlled by the pressure-responsive switch 17 which includes a housing 47 having the conductor 18 extending thereinto (FIG. 6). A bellows or pressure-responsive member 48, mounted in the housing 47, communicates with the conductor and has an axial element or projection 49 extending therefrom. The projection 49 bears against a pivoted switch arm 50 which carries a contact 51 for engagement with a stationary contact 52, the contacts being connected in one of the wires 16. A spring 53 is provided for urging the arm 50 counter-clockwise to hold the contacts 51 and 52 engaged and the circuit to the motor 14 closed for operating the compressor 13. When a predetermined quantity of ice accumulates on the refrigerant coils, the pressure of the liquid in the chamber 23 increases sufficiently to overcome the force of the spring 53 and expand or elongate the bellows 48. The movement of the projection 49 with the bellows causes clockwise pivoting of the switch arm 50 and disengagement of its contact 51 with the contact 52, whereby the circuit to the motor is broken to stop operation of the compressor. Until a predetermined amount of ice melts, the pressure of the liquid holds the switch 17 open to prevent operation of the compressor. Upon suflicient decrease in pressure, the contacts are re-engaged. Although the pressure-responsive switch permits most accurate control of the formation and melting of ice, the bellows 48 is more sensitive to slight variations in pressure when the air bubble 33 is utilized to create a greater pressure difierential. Since the switch is actuated by the pressure of the liquid, it is unnecessary to have any portion thereof or any operating means in contact with the ice. As a result, the thickness of the ice may be maintained within rather fine limits for more eflicient operation.

A slightly modified moisture condenser is shown in FIGS. 8-10 and includes a housing 61, substantially identical to the housing 19, which is adapted to be mounted in the insulated casing 24 and have the conductors 11, 12, 18, 29, 30 and 31 extending thereinto. The interior or chamber 62 of the housing 61 is substantially filled with the same liquid except for a small air bubble 63 and a heat exchanger 64 is immersed in the liquid. For clarity of illustration, the rods or tubes for supporting the heat exchanger are not shown. The heat exchanger 64 includes helical coils 65 and 66 communicating with and extending upwardly from the fluid inlet conductor 30. An outer helical coil 67 extends downwardly from the refrigerant inlet conductor 11 and communicates with an upwardly extending inner helical coil 68 which is connected to the refrigerant outlet conductor 12. The refrigerant coils 67 and 63 are substantially identical to the coils 37 and 38, with the convolutions of said coil 67 being disposed between the convolutions of the fluid coil 66 in the same manner as the coils 36 and 37. Instead of being outwardly disposed like the coil 35, the convolutions of the fluid coil 65 are of substantially the same diameter as the convolutions of the coils 66 and 67 and said coil .65 is positioned adjacent the bottom of the chamber 62 below and in spaced relation to said coils 66 and 67 for pre-cooling the fluid. Since the fluid coil 66 extends upwardly rather than downwardly, its downstream end is adjacent the top of the chamber for com municating with the upper portion of a modified separator 69 through a tangential inlet 76.

The separator 69 is similar to the separator 4% and includes an upright tubular body 71 having similar domed ends 72 and nipples 73 for receiving the fluid outlet and drain conductors 29 and 31 (FIG. 9). An external peripheral lip 74 is provided on the lower end of the conductor 29 which extends an appreciable distance into the interior or chamber 75 of the separator below the tangential inlet 7t). The lip 74 is formed by enlarging or flaring the lower end of the conductor outwardly and is adapted to coact with a conical hood or skirt 76 which depends from said conductor in concentric, spaced relationship and which extends slightly below said lip. Due to the tangential inlet being in the upper portion of the chamber 75, the fluid is whirled downwardly in a spiral path to impart downward movement to the condensed moisture. In addition to clinging to the wall of the chamber, the moisture tends to cling to the lower end portion of the conductor, but is prevented from entering said conductor :by the hood 76 which deflects said moisture outwardly away from the lip 74. Any moisture which collects on the hood drips therefrom and accumulates in the bottom of the chamber, with the moisture which runs down the wall of said chamber, for periodic removal through the drain conduct-or 31. The flared lip assists in deflecting or directing the moisture outwardly. As shown in FIG. 8, the separator 69 is spaced above the bottom of the housing 61 and the fluid coil 65 in the lower portion of the chamber 62, and the inner refrigerant coil 68 is wound therearound so as to be contiguous thereto as Well as adjacent the fluid coil 66. Although the condensers function in the same manner, the modified condenser 60 is more eflicient due to the downward flow of the fluid in its separating chamber 75 which encourages the dropping out of condensed moisture.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A moisture condenser for dehumidifying fluids under pressure including a sealed housing containing a cooling liquid, a heat exchanger immersed in the liquid and having coils for circulating a refrigerant and a fluid in heat exchange relationship to condense moisture in the fluid, a separator immersed in the liquid and having a chamber communicating with the fluid coil of the heat exchanger to receive the fiuid therefrom, the chamber being of larger area than said fluid coil whereby the velocity of the fluid is reduced to permit the dropping out of condensed moisture in said chamber, outlet means for conducting the dehumidifled fluid from said chamber, and means for draining the condensed moisture from said chamber.

2. A moisture condenser as set forth in claim 1 wherein the coils of the heat exchanger helically surround the separator to cool the same and condense moisture in its chamber.

3. A moisture condenser as set forth in claim 1 wherein the upstream portion of the fluid coil is spaced from the refrigerant coil of the heat exchanger whereby the fluid is pre-cooled by the liquid.

4. A moisture condenser as set forth in claim 1 wherein the chamber of the separator has a tangential inlet for imparting whirling movement to the fluid.

5. A moisture condenser as set forth in claim 4 wherein the outlet means is at the upper portion of the chamher, the tangential inlet being at the lower portion of said chamber whereby the fluid is whirled upwardly toward said outlet means,

6. A moisture condenser as set forth in claim 1 Wherein the outlet means includes a conductor depending into the upper portion of the chamber of the separator, the tangential inlet being at the upper portion of said chamher for whirling the fluid downwardly therein, and hood means surrounding the depending conductor to deflect moisture therefrom.

7. A moisture condenser as set forth in claim 1 including refrigerant supply means communicating With the refrigerant coil of the :heat exchanger to freeze the liquid in the sealed housing around said coil, and pressure-responsive means controlling the operation of the supply means to regulate the amount of frozen liquid, the pressure-responsive means having an actuating member communicating with the housing so as to be responsive to variations in the pressure of the liquid.

8. A moisture condenser as set forth in claim 7 wherein the housing is substantially filled with liquid, 2. small quantity of air being retained in said housing to increase the pressure diflerential for actuating the pressure-responsive means.

9. A moisture condenser for dehumidifying gaseous fluids including a sealed housing filled with a cooling liquid, a separator immersed in the liquid and having an upright cylindrical chamber, a heat exchanger immersed in the liquid and having upright helical coils surrounding the separator for circulating a refrigerant and a gaseous fluid in heat exchange relationship to condense moisture in the fluid, the chamber having a tangential inlet communicating with the fluid coil to receive fluid therefrom and impart whirling movement thereto for separating condensed moisture therefrom, outlet means for conducting dehumidifled fluid from said chamber, and means for removing the condensed moisture from said chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,809,642 Sperry June 9, 1931 2,000,467 Lindseth May 7, 1935 2,187,258 Wood Jan. 16, 1940 2,724,950 Rothwell Nov. 29, 1955 2,856,760 Walter Oct. 21, 1958 

